Suspension



Aug 7, 1951 H. T. WOOLSON ET AL 2,563,090

SUSPENSION 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 29, 1944 5, V. mf M Nw Wzl w M MPTM n y ZY #ya Aug` v7, 1951 H. T. wooLsoN ETAL SUSPENSION 2 sheetsheet 2Filed Dec. 29, 1944 INVENTORS. 27h/002150,

2connected by the joints.

`volving parallel links.

atented Aug. 7, 1951 SUSPENSIN Harry T. Woolson, Detroit, and Glenn H.Parker, Birmingham, Mich., assignors to Chrysler Corporation, HighlandPark, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application December 29, 1944,Serial N o. 570,254

This application relates to a vehicle suspen- V-sion. More specificallyit relates to a construction involving the connection of a frame for anautomotive vehicle to an axle housing.

Itis known to provide a construction :forl suspendinga vehicle frame ona rear axle housing, involving arms connected at one end to the frameiIir1.1bber joints permitting resisted angular movement-of the arms andvat the other ends to the axlevhousing, below its centerline withresultant reduction in stresses applied tc the axle housing. A We havedevised improvements in constructions of this sort and more particularlyin the rubber joints mounting the arms on the frame and in the use ofmeans supplemental to thejarms for connecting the vehicle frame and therear axle housing.

An objectV of the present invention is to provide improvements in avehicle suspension and more particularlyv in the resilient mounting ofone end of a yvehicle frame on an axle housing carrying a driving axle.This mounting may involve the use of arms connected to the axle housingbelow; its centerline and to the frame in resilient torsion-resistingjoints.`

A furtherobject is the provision of improved resilient mountings orjoints that are formed of an elastic ring such as rubber that willelastically resist angular movement between parts Such joints ormountings may be employed in a vehicle suspension for connecting arms toa vehicle frame, which armslare also connected to an axle housing.

Another object is to provide an adjustment of the mounting of an elasticring formed, for example, of rubber, which ring is intended toconstitute a resilient joint permitting angular movement between certainparts. Two such rings, axially spaced from one another may conprovidedan adjustment of the angular position of the arms with respect to theframe.

Still another object is the provision of improvements in vehiclesuspension of the type in- Parallel links may be used in the mounting ofa vehicle frame on an axle housing containing a driving axle.

Other objects will appear from the disclosure.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle frame incorporating the novelfeatures of the present invention;

Fig. 2.is aside view partially in section of a portion of the novelvehicle suspension of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 oi Fig. 2;

kto a short side 4I of each channel 26.

l2 Claims. (C1. 267-21) Fig. i is a plan view of the structure shown inFig. 2; andA Fig. 5 is a rear view ofthe structure shown in Fig. 2.

Reference character i designates a vehicle frame that is supported atits front end upon steerablewheels II controlled through a steering postI2 and linkages I3 and I4. The wheels II are mounted upon rearwardlyextending arms I5 and attached to the ends of a front axle I6. The frameI0 comprises longitudinal side members l1, a transverse connectingstructure I8 at the front end of the members I1, a transverse connectingmember I9 at the rear end of the members I1, and an intermediatetransverse tie member 20. Just rearward of the transverse member 20 thesidemembers I1 slope upwardly as shown in Fig. 2 so as to be able toclear a rear axle housing 2| containing "a live driving axle 22, whichdrives rear wheels 23'. The rear axle 22 is adapted to be driven by ashaft not shown contained in a tube 24 connected to a diierentialhousing portion 25 at the mid section of the rear axle housing 2 I,which differential housing portion 25 contains differential mechanismtransmitting drive from the shaft in the tube 24 to the axle 22.

As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, semi-circular channels 26 each have one longside 21 which is secured by soldering or welding to the portion of eachframe side member I1 just rearward of the transverse tie member 20.Semi-circular channels 28 are secured to the channels 26 by means ofbolts 29 and nuts 30, the bolts passing through flanges 3l and 32 on thechannels 26 and 28 respectively. The channels 28 hold against thechannels 26 a pair of resilient joint structures p 33 each composed ofan outerring 34 in contact with the channels 26 and 26, an annulus 35 ofa suitable resilient material such as rubber, and an inner ring 36. Theinner and outer rings 34 and 36 are bonded respectively'to `the innerand outer peripheries of the annuli 35, which are spaced from oneanother and in axial alignment. Each outer ring 34 has at one end anoutwardly directed flange 31 along one-half of the circumference ofwhich is provided a large number of small teeth 38. These teeth 38 litbetween teeth 39 which are also small and in large number and are formedfor yabout in a semicircular part 4I) secured as by soldering or weldingEach inner ring 36 has an inwardly directed flange 42 at one end whichis secured toV an arm 43 about an opening 44 formed in each sidethereof. The securement is accomplished by means of a ring 45 placedwithin the opening 44 and a plurality of screws 46 extending through theflange 42 and the portion of the arm 43 immediately surroundbolt extendsthrough a hollow bracket 41v .being secured thereto as by soldering orwelding and the rear end of the arm is mounted on the portion of thebolt exterior of th bracket 41. There are two'b'raolets filone near eachend of the axle housing 2|. Each bracket is hollow and is secured as by'"soldering or welding, to the axle actions subtract from one another.reaction transmitted to the axle housing 2| by 2 housing 2| and the arms43 to propel the vehicle '-oiwar'dly. fThislatter-torque reaction actsin a clockwise direction and thus the two torque re- The torque brakingapplied to the wheels 23 also acts in a Wclockwise direction and so isin opposition to the counterclockwise direction of twist upon the axlehousing produced by the load of the vehicle upon the frame l0. Since thearms 43 are connected below the axle housing 2| and the dependinghousing 2| in embracing relation with respect to ,y

secured to a portion 'of the bracket 41 that'depends from, the axlehousing 2|. The bracket 41 V4the rear" andb'ot'torn thereof. The bolt 44upon 'which the 'real-"end of the arm 43 is mounted, is l also projectsabove 'the axle housing 2| and to this po'rtiohis' secured a bolt '48 asby soldering by soldering o'r welding. Nut 54 retains the bush- 4 ing Siupon the bolt 53. The length of the link 5| between the bolts 48 and 53is the same as the length of the 'arm 43 between the bolt 44 and theaxis of the joint VYstructures 33, and likewise thel distance betweenthe bolt 44 and the bolt 48 l is the saine 'as the distance between thecenterline o'f the joint structures 33 and the bolt 53. Thus there isprovided a parallelogram of linkages composed 'of the arm '43, link 3|,the bracket The rear end 'of a link 5| is mounted upon the bushings 43and the 'front end thereof is piv- 41, the joint structures 33, thechannels 23 and'v the portions of the side frame members I1 Vbetween thevbolt 53 and the channels 26. At each side of the vehicle `frame l' isprovided a shock absorber 55 which may be of a well-known fluid typeconnected at 'one end to a bolt 56 secured to l,

a side frame member ll'a'nd at the other end 'to the lower ehd of thebracket 41 by means of a bolt 51. VRubl'aerbushings 53 are provided atthe one ehd for the "connection of the vshock absorber to the bolt 56and similar appropriate bushings vnot shown, are provided at the otherend for connectiohfo'f the bolt 51. As seen in Fig. 4, shock absorber'55 projects within the bracket 41, the arm 43 is 'connected by the bolt44 to the outer side of the bracket 41, and the link 5l is connected bythe bolt 43 to the inner side of the bracket 41.

In operation, the AWeight of the vehicle is of course, carried upon thevehicle frame l0, the rear end of which transmits its load to the arms43 which in turn transmit the load to the brackets 41 andthe rear axlehousing 2|. Since the connection of the Yarms 43 to the rear axlehousing 2| is in portions of the brackets 41 that are below the axlehousing and the centerline thereof, there is a twist exerted upon theaxle housing 2| acting in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig.2. This twist is in opposition to the twist effected upon the axlehousing as a result of torque reaction due to the application of forceby the axle 22 and rear wheels 23 acting through 11 angle lof the jointstructures.

brackets 34, application of force by the axle 22 andthe wheels 23 tomove the vehicle forwardly causes a twist to be exerted at the regionwhere the arms 43 are connected Yto the depending brackets 4i. Any harmyresulting from strain and' wear on the parts at this region is preventedby thelinks- 5i vwhich act as torque members in that they restrain thetendency toward counter- `clockwise movement of the axle housing 2|.

Angular 'movement 0f the arms 43 with respectto the frame |33 which mayresult from change in the load-ing upon the `frame I0 or in Ytravellingover rou'gh or uneven ground, is made possible byfthe rubber annuli l35of the joint structures 33. These rubber annuli by twisting of theirinner peripheries with respect to their outer perip-heries permit the.necessary angular movement of the arms 43 about the axis of the annuli35. Suppose that one wheel 23 is higher than the other wheelf23 becauseof unevenness ci the ground over Vwhich the vehicle travels, anytendency of thel axle housing 2l 'to twist due to theresultant tiltingof the axle housing is prevented by the parallelograms of linkages thatinclude the links 5| and the arms 43. Thus no matter how the verticalposition of one end of the axle housing changes with respect to theother end, there is no angular movement of the axle housing about itsown axis as a result of the change in vertical position, andconsequently there is no twist to the axle housing.

The teeth 39 Von the varcuate parts 40 secured to the channels 26,engage the teeth 38 on the flanges 31 on the outer rings 34 of the jointstructures 33and thus angular movement of the ring 34 with respect tothe channels 26 and 28 is prevented. Thus the angular vposition of thearms 43 with respect to the side frame members |1 :for any givencondition of loading is determined. If it is desired to change thisangle so that, for example, the frame I0 may be higher or lower withrespect to the axle 2|., the bolts 29 are loosened suiiiciently so thatthe .joint structures 33 may be moved downwardly enough to take theteeth 38 out of engagement with the teeth 39. When this is done the arms.-43 are shifted to another desired angular position, the jointstructures 33 are raised to bring the teeth 38 back into engagement withthe teeth z39e, and the bolts 29 are tightened to main 'this engagement.Since there is a large'n'umber of teeth 38 and 39,`there is good'securenient of the joint structures 33 'to the channels 2G such as toinsure no change in Since the 'teeth 33 and 39 are small, a veryinefadjustment of the angle of the arms 43 with 'respect 'to the VframeI0 is obtainable.

We claim:

1. The combination with a vehicle vframe and a suspension arm; fof meansconnecting the arm and the frame in a joint resilien'tly resistingtorsion of the arm with respect to the frame, 'said joint being formedof a pair oflelas'tic annuli spaced from one another in axial alignmentand receiving the arm betweenv them, means bonded to the outer surfacesof the annuli and secured to the frame, and rings bonded to the innersurfaces of the annuli and having inwardly extend- Ving flanges securedto the arm.

2. The combination with a vehicle frame and a' suspension arm; of meansconnecting the arm and the frame in a joint resiliently resistingtorsion of the arm with respect to the frame, said joint being formed ofa pair of elastic annuli spaced from one another in axial alignment andreceiving the arm between them, means bonded to the outer suriacesoitheannuli and secured to the frame, and rings bonded to the inner surfacesof the annuli and having at their inner' ends inwardly extending'fiangessecured to the arm.

3. The combination with a vehicle frame and a suspension arm; of meansconnecting the arm to the frame in a joint resiliently resisting torsionof the arm with respect to the frame, said joint comprising a pair ofaxially aligned elastic annuli spaced from one another, means securingthe inner peripheries of the annuli to the arm, rings bonded to theouter peripheries of the annuli, fixed members secured to the frame andpartially embracing the rings, and releasable members detachablysecurable to the iixed members for partially embracing the rings so asto hold them against the fixed members, and pluralities of mating teethprovided respectively on relative under portions of the fixed membersand on relatively upper portions of the rings for preventing movement ofthe rings with respect to the fixed members about the Aaxis of theannuli during securement of the releasable members to the fixed membersand being disengageable from one another incident to loosening of thereleasable members from the fixed members and separation of therelatively upper portions of the rings downwardly from the underportions of the fixed members to provide for shifting of the rings aboutthe axis of the annuli with resultant corresponding shifting of the arm.

4. The combination with a vehicle frame and a suspension arm; of meansconnecting the frame and the arm in a joint resiliently resistingtorsion of the arm with respect to the frame, said joint comprising apair of axially aligned elastic annuli spaced from one another, ringsbonded to the outer peripheries of the annuli, means securing the innerperipheries of the annuli to the arm, fixed members secured to the frameand partially embracing the rings, releasable members detachablysecurable to the fixed members for partially embracing the rings so asto hold them against the fixed members,` toothed elements secured to theouter ends of the fixed members exposing teeth generally accessible andengageable from below, the outer ends of the rings having teeth formedon upper portions thereof mating with the toothed elements forpreventing movement of the rings with respect to the fixed members aboutthe axis of the annuli during securement of the releasable members tothe fixed members and being disengageable downwardly from the toothedelements upon loosening of the releasable members from the fixed membersto provide for shifting of the rings about the axis of the annuli withresultant corresponding shifting of the arm.

5. The combination with a vehicle frame and a suspension arm; of meansconnecting the frame and the arm in a joint resiliently resistingltorsion of the arm Withrespect to the frame, said 6 joint comprising apair of :axially alignedelastio annuli spaced from one another andreceiving the arm between them, first rings bonded to the outerperipheries of the annuli, second rings bonded to the innerperipheriesofthe annuli and having inwardly extending flanges secured to the arm,fixedmembers secured to the frame and partially embracingrtherst rings,releasable members detachably secured to the fixed members for partiallyembracing the first rings so as to hold them against the fixed members,toothed elements secured to the outer ends of the fixed mem-y bers, theouter ends. of the first rings having teeth mating with the toothedelements for preventing movementof the first rings with respect to thefixed members aboutthe axis of the annuli dur-- ing securement of thereleasable members to the xed members and being disengageable from thetoothed elements upon loosening of the releasable members from the fixedmembers to provide for shifting ofthe first rings about the axis of theannuli with resultant corresponding shifting of the arm. l

6. .The combination with a vehicle frame and a suspension arm; of meansconnecting the frame and the arm in a joint resiliently resistingtorsion of the arm with respect tothe frame said joint comprising a pairof axially aligned elastic annuli spaced from one another and receivingthe arm between them, first rings bonded to the outer peripheries of theannuli `and having outwardly extending flanges at their outer ends,second rings bonded to the inner peripheries of the annuli and having attheir inner ends inwardly extending fianges secured to the arm, fixedsemi-circular members secured to the frame and partially embracing therst rings and having outwardly extending anges at their outer ends,releasable semi-circular members detachably secured to the fixed membersfor partially embracing the first rings so as to hold them against thexed members, toothed elements secured to the flanges on the fixedmembers, the flanges on the rst rings being provided with teeth matingwith the toothed elements for preventing movement of the first ringswith respect to the xed members about the axis of the annuli duringsecureinent of the fixed and releasable members to one another and beingdisengageable from the toothed elements upon loosening of the releasablemembers from the fixed members to provide for shifting of the rst ringsabout the axis of the annuli with resultant corresponding shifting ofthe arm. '7. The combination with Ia vehicle frame and a suspension armj of means connecting the frame and the arm in a joint resilientiyresisting torsion of the arm with respect to the frame, said jointcomprising a pair of'axially aligned elastic annuli spaced from oneanother and receiving the arm between them, first rings bonded to theouter peripheries of the annuli and having outwardly extending flangesat one end, second rings bonded to the inner peripheries of the annuliand attached to the arm, fixed semi-circular members secured to theframe and partially embracing the first rings and having outwardlyextending flanges at one end, releasable semi-circular membersdetachably securable to the fixed members for partially embracing therst rings so as to hold them against the fixed members, and pluralitiesof mating teeth associated with the out- -Wardly extending fianges onthe fixed members and the first rings` preventing movement of the ringswith respect tothe fixed members about the -axis of theannuiilduringlsecurement of the reyazseaoeo leasable members to thefixed members and being dsengageable from one another upon loosening ofthe releasable members from the xed members to provide for shifting ofthe rings about the axis of the annuli with resultant correspondingshifting of the arm.

8. The combination with a vehicle frame and a suspension arm; of meansconnecting the arm to the frame in a joint resiliently resisting torsionyof the arm with respect to the frame, said joint comprising a pair ofaxially aligned elastic annuli spaced from one another, means securingone periphery of each annulus to the arm, rings bonded to the otherperipheries of the annuli, fixed members secured to the frame andpartially embracing the rings, releasable members detachably securableto the fixed members for partially embracing the rings; so as to holdthem against the iixed members, and pluralities of mating teeth providedrespectively on relative under portions of the fixed members and onrelatively upper portions of the rings for preventing movement of therings with respect to the fixed members about the axis of the annuliduring securement 'of the releasable members to the fixed members andbeing disengageable from one another incident to loosening of thereleasable members from the fixed members and separation of the relativeupper portions of the rings downwardly from the relative under portionsof' the fixed members to provide for shifting of the rings about theaxis of the annuli with resultant corresponding shifting of the arm.

9. The combination with a Vehicle frame and a suspension arm; of meansconnecting,` the arm to the frame in a joint resiliently resistingtorsion of the armwith respect to the frame, said joint comprising apair of axially aligned elastic annuli spaced from one another andreceiving the arm between them, means securing one periphery of eachannulus to the arm, rings bonded to the other peripheries of the annuli,fixed members secured to the frame and partially ernbracing the rings,releasable members detachably secured to the fixed members for partiallyembracing the rings so as to hold them against the fixed members, andpluralities of mating teeth forming downwardly concave sectors: on thexed members and upwardly convex complementary sectors on the rings forpreventing movement of the rings with respect to the xed members aboutthe axis of the annuli during securement of the releasabley members tothe fixed members and being disengageable from one another uponsubstantially vertical separation of said sectors incident to loosening`of the releaseable members and rings from the iixed members to providefor shifting of the rings about the axis of the annuli with resultantcorresponding shifting of the arm.

10. The combination with a vehicle frame and a suspension arm; of meansconnecting theA arm to the frame in a joint resiliently resistingtorsion of the arm with respect to the frame, said joint comprising apair of axially aligned elastic annulil spaced from one another andreceiving the arm between them, means securing the inner peripheries ofthe annuli to the, arm, rings bonded to the outer peripheries of theannuli, fixed 'members secured to the frame and partially embracing therings, releasable members detachably secured tothe fixed'. members forpartially embracing the. rings. so as to hold them against the iixedmembers, and pluralities of mating teeth forming downwardly concave secltors on the ii'xed members and upwardly convex complementary sectors onthe rings for preventing movement oi the rings with respect to the iixedmembers about the axis of the annuli during securement of the releasablemembers to the xed members and being disengageable from one another uponsubstantially vertical separation of said sectors incident to looseningof the releasable members and rings from the xed members to provide forshifting of the rings about the axis of the annuli with resultantcorresponding shiiting of the arm.

11-. The combination with a vehicle frame and a suspension arm; of meansconnecting the f' frame and the arm in a joint resiliently resistingtorsion of the arm with respect to the frame, said joint comprising anelastic annulus, means securing the inner periphery of the annulus tothe arm,V a ring bonded to the outer periphery of the annulus, and meanssecuring the ring to the vehicle frame and comprising a section fixed tothe vehicle frame and a depending section releasably secured to theunderside of the xed section for releasably holding the ring ininterposition therebetween, said iixed section and ring having upper andlower pluralities of interlocking elements establishing interengagedcooperation between the iixed section and ring when the latter is in theinterposed position, said upper plurality ci elements being provided onthe ixed section and said lower plurality of elements vbeing provided onthe ring for normally interlocking the ring and fixed section againstrelative turning movement but allowing circumferential adjustment uponrelease downwardly or the releasable section and ring.

i2. The combination with a vehicle frame and a suspension arm; of. meansconnecting the frame and arm in a joint resiliently resisting torsion ofthe arm with respect to the frame, said joint comprising a pair ofaxially aligned and axially spaced elastic annuli receiving the armbetween them, means securing lthe inner peripheries of the annuli to thearm, rings bonded to the outer peripheries of the annuli, and meanssecuring the rings to the vehicle frame and comprisin-g sections fixedto the vehicle frame and depending sections releasably secured to theunderside of the fixed sections for releasably holding the rings ininterposition between the Fixed sections and releasable sections, saidfixed sections and rings having pluralities oi upper and lower lockingelements establishing interengaged cooperation between the iixedsections and rings when the latter are in. the interposed positionaforesaid, said pluralities of upper elements being provided on thefixed sections and said pinralities of lower elements being provided onthe rings: for normally interlocking the rings and fixed sectionsagainst relative turning movement but allowing circumferentialadjustment upon release downwardly of the releasable sections and rings.f

HARRY T. WOOLSON. GLENN H. PARKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the l'e ofthis patent:

